Matthias vom Schemm's graduation film from the Cologne International Film School won the Cologne Design Prize and was nominated for numerous prizes, including the German Camera Prize and the FIRST STEPS Award. The story focus is a young woman who opposes the strict religious doctrine of her small home village of the 1920s.
Preacher Caspar lives with his son Friedel in the hinterlands north of Cologne, Germany. When Hannah, who yearns for a life of freedom and self-determination, is given into his care, Friedel develops tender feelings for her. He is torn between his Christian world view and his yearning for Hannah.

Frido and his daughter Lisa live in one of the West German villages affected by the relocation efforts due to coal mining expansion in the region. The last family living in the deserted village, they will have to move soon. However, Frido is living in complete denial, clinging on to his home and the way life used to be for him there. Instead of planning the inevitable move, he redoes his front yard and puts a fresh coat of paint on his house that is inevitably to fall victim to the huge excavators slowly but surely approaching it.
Frido also loses touch with his young daughter Lisa. Recently graduated from high school, she is trying to cope with the loss of her mother and her home at the same time. On top of that, she has to assume the responsibilities that Frido isn’t willing to take, losing track of her own needs in the process. She is also afraid of telling her father that she is moving in with her boyfriend Hannes, whom Frido dislikes. For Frido this is more than simply moving; this for him is losing the place where he grew up and happily spent most of his life together with his recently deceased wife. This is a journey of learning to let go and accepting the inevitable changes in life.

In the short drama STILL LIFE two sisters try to encourage their mother not to give up after the death of their father. However, she wishes nothing more than to follow her husband to his death and thus remain united with him.
Together the sisters want to prevent their mother from following her husband to her death. Johanna arrives a few days after her sister Alexandra, who already seems resigned to the situation. The grief surrounding their father's suicide and the deep depression of their mother is sapping their energy and ability to cope.
"Perfect image composition, atmospheric, subdued lighting and camera angles reminiscent of the Old Masters, let the mother's pain and the children's attempt to awaken her will to survive come to life. (fbw-film rating.com)

Christine Wernke's graduation film from the International Film School Cologne received the Young Talent Award at the Grenzland Filmtage Selb and was shown at the Karlovy Vary Fresh Film Festival. Dana returns to her hometown at the Baltic Sea. Twenty years ago, she and her family feld East Germany by boat. The escape failed and Dana was separated from her family.
In a small coastal town, the young woman is haunted by disturbing nightmares and visions. Dana goes in search of her past and discovers that besides her parents and herself there was another family member in the boat...
"I liked the idea that the place of terrible past trauma was an idyllic summer holiday spot. The sea - symbol of freedom and independence - was one of the most dangerous borders of the GDR. (Director's commentary - Christine Wernke)

POLTERABEND - Stag Party is a satirical comedy about a father who has to give away his beloved daughter's hand to a hated son-in-law. This short screened at the Max-Ophuels-Preis festival in Saarbrücken and won the audience prize for best film at the Grenzland-Filmtage Selb.
"Don't worry, Nobbi. I'll take good care of your treasure." Aged boxer Norbert has his own opinion on that! He's sick at the thought of his daughter - his jewel! - marrying the nouveau-rich and self-indulgent Lukas. Angry Norbert starts his night shift as a taxi driver. His picks up customer Ingrid who is going through a similar situation but who is a completely different type of person. She takes Norbert on a long emotional trip that will give him a new perspective on his life.
POLTERABEND - Stag Party is Marian Bruchholz's graduation film from the International Film School Cologne.

As the saying goes: The best thing about a family, you're never alone. The worst thing is, you're never alone! An upstanding German household goes nuts. Far from her Russian homeland, Tatjana cares for Inge, an old and fragile German woman. But today is Tatjana's birthday but no one cares. Disappointed, Tatjana falls asleep but is woken by her Russian family who turns Anne's house upside down.

In this "faction" style drama/fake documentary, Alexandra Brodski from the Cologne International Film School tells the story of Jasper (24), who makes a documentary about the identical twins Jana and Nina (29). While trying to penetrate the depths of their symbiotic relationship, he realizes that twins may not be inseparable after all...
When Nina falls in love with Jasper, Jana fears losing the perfidious game that has started between the filmmaker and his subjects.
"Alexandra Brodski dared to do something unusual stylistically with WE ARE ME by telling fictional stories in the form of the documentary in the "faction" style. (choices.de)

Malvin is writing his Master's thesis and spends an aimless life sitting in front of the computer, the monitor the only connection he has outside world. One day, the Internet dies and Malvin is forced to confront his paralyzing apathy. He finds out that his roommate Simon has cancer and will not live much longer. His apathy has consequences and his bubble existence is about to burst.
Malvin is a typical representative of our generation. Discontent and aimless. His room is a self-made cell of isolation, the computer taking center stage. Anne Maschlanka's short film HAVING KREBS played in festivals around the world and won international awards for the best sound and the best editing. The German Film Rating Board has awarded the film the title "particularly valuable".
"HAVING CANCER shows that human existence is what it is - tragic and funny at the same time. The jury is absolutely convinced and unanimously voted award this film with the highest rating." (fbw-film rating.com)

Wotan Wilke Möhring (Tatort) portrays the ethics teacher Andreas Vossen, whose secret life as a football hooligan is under threat of being uncovered by one of his students, Benny, played by Kai Malina (Das Weiße Band). Bogdana Vera Lorenz's short Home Game won the German Film Critics' Prize for the best short film as well as two awards at the Dresden Film Festival.
High school teacher Vossen throws punches in the hooligan mob until the adrenaline pumps through his veins and empties his mind. He's addicted to the rush and it's the only thing he lives for. When a new student joins his class and recognizes Vossen as a fellow hooligan, the cleanly separated worlds threaten to collide. "Entertaining and exciting." (bild.de)

Simon Dolensky's graduation film from the International Film School Cologne was nominated for the First Steps Award and for the Michael Ballhaus Award For Best Young Cinematographer. Based on a true story, NIRWANA tells of a modern odyssey that also "symbolizes the inattention to those on whose backs our prosperity is carried out". (Director's commentary)
Din Islam lives with his family in a small village near Chittagong, the largest port city in Bangladesh. To feed his family, Din and his close friend Amin head off to the city to look for work. After a long and disappointing day, they stroll around the darker parts of the city, looking for a place to sleep. Their decision to sleep in an empty cargo container turns out to be a serious mistake which takes them farther away from home than they ever dreamed of. The next morning the doors of the container are closed and they are on a journey into an uncertain future, which puts their friendship and lives to the test.
"NIRWANA is the most powerful image in a long time of people as commodities." (tagesspiegel.de)

Home of Films - Internationale Hofer Filmtage; International Festival of Detective Films; International Human Rights Film Festival; Indianapolis International Film Festival; Indian Film Festival; Student Film Festival - World Film Festival; International Festival Sarajevo; SCENECS International Debut Film Festival; Golden Anteaters Film Festival; North Carolina Film Awards

Winner of best debut at the New Renaissance Film Festival Amsterdam, Lydia-Maria Emrich's PANTHERESS tosses the protagonist from her old life into uncharted waters. The up-and-coming director presented her graduation film from the Cologne International Film School at the Max Ophüls Prize film festival where she earned a place on the MOP-Watchlist 2017.
Mara jumps from a bridge to her death - and wakes up in the hospital. But something's wrong. Her boyfriend has a new girlfriend, no one recognizes her, her former life has been taken over by strange people. Detached from life, she strolls through the city and tries desperately to find a new start. But can you get something back that has long since disappeared?

Oliver Meinborn's graduation film from the International Film School Cologne TRANSIT screened at the Hofer Filmtage and won Best Short Film at the Wag Film Festival. A comedy, we watch the staid penny pincher Dieter and his Sherlock Holmes friend Ronan go on an unexpected road trip.
Every man is an abyss, with the exception of Dieter (55). When out of the blue his wife Tamara takes off to Mont Saint Michel, leaving the endless repetition of their life together behind, Dieter is forced to leave the security of his row house cocoon for the first time. Aided by congenial vagabond and street philosopher Ronen (38), Dieter embarks on a journey that will confront him with the impossibility of escaping one's self.

Engin Kundağ from the International Film School Cologne premiered his graduation film ARARAT at the Berlinale's Perspektive Deutsches Kino. ARARAT received the highest Seal of Approval: Highly Recommended from the German Film and Media Ratings Office. Kundağ is the son of Turkish immigrants and deals in ARARAT with the question of lost identity. ARARAT was shot in his parents' home village.
Noah has not seen his father for ten years. Shortly before his father dies, Noah makes the 3,000 mile journey to Mount Ararat but arrives too late, and has to bury his father at the foot of the legendary mountain. His tenderhearted brother still lives in his father’s old village where he leads an unhappy marriage with his spirited wife, who thinks of her husband as a weakling. Noah tries to mediate, but where exactly will the best intentions of a man who left his village so long ago, who now nothing more than a stranger, lead?
"The camera traces the story with strikingly sensual and on-the-mark imagery make the viewer think. A touching family story that will have a lasting effect on the viewer." (German Film and Media Rating)

SKENA UP International Students Film and Theatre Festival Prishtina - Winner Best DOP; U.FRAME Intern. Academic Video Festival Porto - Winner Best Fiction Film; Koblenzer Videotage - Mayor’s Award; UNLIMITED Short Film Festival - 2. Prize in the regional competition “Kölner Fenster”; Filmfestival Dresden - Nomianted for Golden Horseman for Best Short Fiction Film; Turkish/German Film Festival Nürnberg - Nomianted for Best Short; Snake Alley Festival - Nominated for Best Drama, Best of the Fest, Director's Award for Outstanding Performance

Festivals

Berlinale; New Talents Cologne; Avvantura Festival Filmforum Zadar; Ostrava Kamera Oko; Izmir International Short Film Festival; Int. Student Film and Video Festival FILOFEST; New Directors / New Films New York; Lanzarote Festival de Cine; Valencia International Film Festival Cinema Jove; Norwegian Short Film Festival; Shanghai International Film Festival; GOLDEN APRICOT Yerevan International Film Festival; Portobello Film Festival; FILMZ Festival of German Films; Koblenzer Videotage; Sydney Intercultural Film Festival; Grand OFF Independent Film Festival

Student Oscar, German Critics Award, First Steps Award, and over 25 prizes at international festivals, Elmar Imanov's graduation film from the International Film School Cologne is about the coffin maker Yagub, who lives with his mentally handicapped son Musa in a small house in the rural desert in Azerbaijan.
The carpenter Yagub earns his money mainly with coffins he makes for Georgians and Russians.
The son's clumsiness is met with contempt and mistreatment by Yagub. Then Musa is diagnosed with a fatal disease. The old carpenter then tries to get closer to his son and make his last days pleasant.
"The two leading actors display great acting skills even with the sparse dialogue. An authentic, atmospheric and moving short film." (fbw-film rating.com)

Student Academy Award - Bronze Award for Best Foreign Film; Sehsüchte Film Festival - Best fiction short film; FLICKERS Rhode Island International Film Festival - First Prize & Best Cinematography; Int. Student and Video Festival of Beijing Film Academy - Golden Award; UNLIMITED Short Film Festival - Award of the Film Critics; Ffresh Student Moving Image Festival Wales - Best International Film; Silence, on court! - Best International Film; Gulf Film Festival - Best International Short Film; River Film Festival - Best Film School Film; Amirani International Student Film Festival - Best Film; GOLDEN APRICOT Yerevan International Film Festival - Special Jury Mention; Open Cinema Int. Short & Animation Film Festival - Best Film; Vukovar Film Festival - Best Short Film; Tashkent International Film Forum "Golden Guepard" - For Best Acting and Emotional Expression of the Theme of Humanism; Leiden International Film Festival - Audience Award – Best Short Film; European Short Film Festival - Grand Prix du film court de la Ville de Brest; International Film Festival Etiuda&Anima - Grand Prix Golden Dinosaur & Special Mention by FICC jury International Federation of Film Societies; FILMZ Festival of German Films - Best Medium Length Film; SKENA UP Film Festival - Best Fiction Film; NexT International Film Festival - Next Trophy 2014 & Audience Award; FiSH - Festival im Stadthafen Rostock - Gold Medal of the Federal Association of German Film-Authors; Best of Short Films Festival, La Ciotat - Golden Sun Award for Best Film; West Nordic Int. Film Festival in Alesund - Audience Award

Festivals

Filmfest Dresden; Sehsüchte Film Festival; International Short Film Festival Hamburg; World Film Festival Montreal; UNLIMITED Short Film Festival Cologne; Festival du Cinéma Européen Lille; Brussels Short Film Festival; European Short Film Festival Brest; FILMZ Festival of German Films; REC Film Festival Berlin; Filmfest Düsseldorf; Up-and-coming International Film Festival Hannover; Leiden International Film Festival; Streamingfestival for Audio Visual Art; Richmond International Film Festival; Festival L'Europe autour de l'Europe; Go Short International Short Film Festival; Shorts at Moonlight; Weiterstadt Open Air Festival; West Nordic Int. Film Festival in Alesund; Poitiers Film Festival

Director Maria Titova studied documentary directing with Marina Razbezhkina (Harvest Time). In GLÜCKSKIND, her graduation film from the International Film School Cologne, how a young woman is torn between her role as a mother and the desire for self-realization.
A young man enters the idyllic but secluded life of the young mother Lilli and her daughter Ilvy, who awakens Lilli's needs for passion, variety and freedom. But the inseparable bond between mother and child does not allow for intruders.

Sonja Keßler, a graduate of the International Film School Cologne, won numerous awards with her graduation film, the historical drama AFTERMATH. Unconventional lead character Marga impressed the juries at Max Ophuels, the California Women´s Film Festival and the International Women in Film Festival Vancouver.
Germany 1916. Misery, decay, ruin are everywhere. In this desolation two outsiders make a timid friendship, which, however, is abruptly affected when the war reaches the small village.
The First World War is in full swing and Marga is fighting for survival. Since her husband Otto disappeared in the war, she has kept herself alive by stealing potatoes and selling home distilled moonshine. Her determination and assertiveness soon make her an outcast in her own village. But twelve-year-old Hans is fascinated by Marga. A misfortune links the fates of the these two characters.

California Women´s Film Festival - Best Foreign Film; International Women in Film Festival Vancouver - Best Performance in a Short Award; Max Ophuels Preis - Nominated for Best Medium-Length Film; Ouchy Film Awards Lausanne - Nominated for Best Director; California Women´s Film Festival - Nominated for Best Director

Festivals

Max Ophuels Preis; Ouchy Film Awards; Tacoma Film Festival; Portobello Film Festival; California Women´s Film Festival; International Women in Film Festival Vancouver; Internationale Film Festival of Uruguay; Action&Adventure Film Festival MOVIEPARK

Jarek Dudas Kiez drama BROTHER is his graduation film from the International Film School Cologne and was awarded for best screenplay at the Independent Film Awards Warsaw. Before that Duda worked as head of his own music label, and worked on music videos and advertising companies for well-known customers.
Lukasz (24) wants to get out of crisis mode. He yearns for recognition and loyalty. As tough thug for Hamburg's main man, he believes he's found it all. While Lukasz's rise up the ladder begins to take shape, the death of their mother brings his little brother Kamil (13) to Lukasz's front door after a long break in contact. Lukasz is forced to choose between his criminal substitute family and his brother.

Independent Film Awards Warsaw – Best Screenplay; Grand OFF World Independent Film Awards - Winner Best Script and nominated for Best Actor; Hamburg International Short Film Festival – Nominated for Jury Award; Short Film Festival Landshut - Nominated for Jury Award; Camerimage - Nominated for Golden Tadpole

Invited to both Short Film Corner in Cannes and at the Oberhausen Short Film Festival, Christian Zipfel's final project at the IFS Filmschule Köln is a historical drama based on a true story. In 1873, after a long illness, farmer Hans Herberholz returns to to his homestead only to find it plundered, his wife dead, and the cattle stolen.
"The film is only about 30 minutes long but what an intense 30 minutes it is." (wn.de)
Only his daughter Elsie is there to greet him. To preserve the farm, he must find her a prosperous marriage. But Elsie is in love with the servant Willi and is pregnant by him. Farmer Hans has to choose between his daughter or the survival of the farm.

WHO AM I HAPPY, a short film about a trans teen and her how she's treated by other residents of the youth home she has just moved in to, is Maria Pavlido's graduation film from the Cologne International Film School. WHO I AM HAPPY LUCKY was shown at numerous LGBT and Queer Film Festivals worldwide.
Alicia (Ekaterina Tafel) is 15 years old and lives at a group home for youth with special needs. She wants to become a singer and longs for recognition. One day, a new teen, Mika, is seated at the dinner table. Alicia notices that this boy not only pays attention to her, but is also somehow different. A flirtation begins, but when Alicia walks into her room and 15-year-old Mika is undressing next to her bed, Alicia wants to throw him out. Especially when it turns out that Mika is not a boy at all, but her new roommate Michaela (Sophie "Liam" Aller).